FanDuel MLB: Thursday Value Plays

Winner of the FSWA 2016 Newcomer of the Year Award, Juan Carlos Blanco has been playing fantasy sports for close to 20 years and covers NBA, MLB, and the NFL for Rotowire.com, including serving as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' beat writer. He has previously written for KFFL.com and remains an avid season-long and daily fantasy player in multiple sports.

Mike Foltynewicz, ATL at WAS ($7,200): Foltynewicz has had his share of struggles on the road, but he catches a break Thursday against a Nationals lineup that will be without the resting Ryan Zimmerman, Daniel Murphy and Anthony Rendon, as well as Bryce Harper (knee). Folty has also been effective recently, scoring 23 and 37 fantasy points in a pair of quality starts versus the Cubs and Marlins. He also notched 30 fantasy points against the Rockies three starts ago, while the Nationals have a 21.6 percent strikeout rate and 25.8 percent hard-contact rate against righties at home in the last 21 days, with most of those games featuring a more formidable lineup than Thursday’s.
CATCHER

Brian McCann, HOU at LAA ($2,900): McCann’s history against Angels starter Ricky Nolasco includes a .342 average and nine homers in 78 plate appearances. He’s also owns a .450 wOBA over his first 25 plate appearances of September, as well as a .333 wOBA and .202 ISO against righties on the road. Nolasco gives up a matching .333 wOBA and a 34.5 percent-hard contact rate to right-handed hitters, along with a .400 wOBA when throwing his trademark sinker, a pitch against which McCann owns a .371 wOBA.
FIRST BASE

Yonder Alonso, SEA at TEX ($2,900): Alonso boasts a .376 wOBA, .230 ISO and 35.3 percent hard-contact rate versus right-handed pitching, while Rangers starter Andrew Cashner has allowed a .333 wOBA and 6.37 xFIP to left-handed hitters at Globe Life Park. Meanwhile, Rangers relievers have an AL-high 9.53 ERA and .388 wOBA allowed to lefty bats at home in the last 21 days.
SECOND BASE

Jonathan Schoop, BAL at NYY ($3,300): Schoop has smacked 21 of his 31 homers off righties, leading to a .353 wOBA and a 36.1 percent hard-contact rate against that handedness on the road. Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka has been tough at home, but he’s allowed a .333 wOBA (including 15 homers) to righty bats on the season. He’s also generated a 6.55 ERA and .333 wOBA over his last two starts, and allowed a .468 wOBA when throwing his sinker, a pitch against which Schoop owns a .426 wOBA.

Byron Buxton, MIN vs. TOR ($3,400): Blue Jays starter Brett Anderson has surrendered a .362 wOBA to right-handed hitters, while Buxton’s body of work versus southpaws at Target Field includes a .386 wOBA and 33.3 percent hard contact rate. The slugging outfielder has also been hot overall in the second half, posting a .390 wOBA in 164 plate appearances. Meanwhile, the .454 wOBA Anderson allows when throwing his trademark sinker could spell trouble against Buxton, who owns a .350 wOBA versus the pitch.

Nick Markakis, ATL at WAS ($3,200): Nationals starter Tanner Roark has allowed a .387 wOBA (including eight homers), 5.12 xFIP and 33.3 percent hard-contact rate to lefty bats at Nationals Park, while Markakis counters with a .382 wOBA and 41.2 percent hard-contact rate against righties on the road. He’s also tagged Roark for three homers in his career, furthering his case.

Jon Jay, CHC vs. NYM ($2,500): Jay will lead off Thursday versus Mets starter Seth Lugo, who’s allowed a .340 wOBA, 4.85 xFIP and 38.8 percent hard-contact rate to left-handed hitters on the road. Jay sports a .357 wOBA and 30.8 percent hard-contact rate versus right-handed pitching at Wrigley, and a .441 wOBA versus the sinker, Lugo’s second-most used pitch and one he allows a .377 wOBA when throwing. Moreover, Mets relievers have a 7.40 ERA and have allowed a .402 wOBA (including four homers) to the 105 lefty bats they’ve faced on the road in the last three weeks.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Juan Carlos Blanco plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: DraftKings: jcblanco22, FanDuel: jc_blanco22, DraftPot: jc_blanco22, FantasyDraft: jc_blanco22, OwnThePlay: jcblanco22.